Flexible wheel.



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PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

E. WIGGLESWORTH.

FLEXIBLE WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1e, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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t Lgf/0 76 l il . ERNEST WIGGLESWORTH, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

. FLEXIBLE WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April so, 19o?.

Appliuatioh iiled November 16,1906. Serial No. 343.754.

- land, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Wheels, of which the following is a specification. This invention has reference to improvements in flexible wheels such as are used for automobiles, bicycles, vand other road vehiboss a is provided with a cap y' which screws cles.

The object of the invention is to constructa flexible wheel in which its main parts are rows of spikes, and the socket 13. a plan of the same. y .of the V or.Y shaped supporting plates which lpanying drawings, in which loosely yet securely attached together. The

said wheel is composed of a numb of con-l shaped plates being inserted in sockets between the rims. Means are lalso provided for the tensioning of the rims by means of the spokes mounted in the hub of the wheel so that the spokes are capable'of separate or simultaneous adjustment. l

A flexible' wheel constructed according to this invention is illustrated in the accom- Fi re 1 is a front elevation of one half of a whee provided with three concentric ilexible rims. Fig. 2. a front elevation of a quar-` ter o f a wheel having two concentric rims. The following views arel drawnl to a larger scale than Figs.' 1 and 2. Fig. 3. a sectional elevation on line'A. B. Fig.'1. Fig. 4. a side elevation of the outer portion of a spoke and of a socket for receiving the same. Fig. 5. a section of the socketon line C.- '1). Fig. 4. Fig. 6. a plan of socket lookin at the top. Fig. 7. an end elevation .of a soc et with two rows of attaching spikes. Fig'. 8. an end elevation' of a socket with four rows of s ikes.' Fig. 9. an end elevationof a socket wit two ortion arranged at an angle. Fig. 10. a f tion of a spoke. Fig. 11. an end elevation of the same. \Fig. 12. a sectional elevation with acone adjustment for the spokes.

Fig. 14. an edge view are inserted between the rims of the wheels. Fig. 15. a side view of the same. Fig. 16. an edge view of curved plates.

a is theboss of the hub ofthe wheel and in it is formed a central hole 4b for the' axle. Around the boss are a number of sockets c.

ont eleva- Fig.

Each socket is provided with a rectangular hole d for the reception of the spoke e. The' center of the rectangular hole is enlarged at f as shown at Fig. 13, and the enlargement is continued through the boss a, as at Fig. 3. A separate hole f is provided for each spoke. Ineachholef are inserted a number of balls g which are made vto press a ainst the end of each spoke by a stud '7b. he outer end of each stud is screwed into a disk i which slides upon a reduced portion of the boss a. The

onto its periphery, `and is made to ress against the disk i for simultaneously a justing the studs h. A hole j is made in the cap for'the reception of the outer ends of the studs hin order that theymay be capable of se arate adjustment.

n some cases, as at Fig. 12, the holes -balls g, studs h, and disk i are dis ensed wit When this is the case a conical s a ed recess c is cast or formed in one side o the hub around the boss a. yond the vwidth of the spoke and length of rectangular hole d. The boss a has a screw thread cut in. its periphery. A cone Z,hav ing holes m formed in its outer end for inter* mittently rotating it,-is screwed upon the boss a. The inchned surface of the cone is made to press 'against the inner end of each spoke-w-hich 1n. this case maybe slightly inclined,`-for causin it to move outward. The cone l is nclose in the cap which is also screwed upon the boss a.

Each spoke e -is enlarged at its outer end n (Fig. 10) and also slightly tapered and semispherical as at Fig. v11. In the end nare formed or out apurnber of recesses o for the urpose to be presently explained. A numlier of holes pare also formed in the saidend. The inner end of each spoke is provided with` a .presser iece g (Figs. il) and '11) against which the allsf or cone l work. Or, when cated orbow-sha d piece 5 the outer ends of The recess 7c extends be- IOO To the outer end of each tubular spoke 1 is ixed, ,by a set screw the bifurwhich` are shape ,as shown at- Fig. 2, to fit intothe sockets y. u, o, and w are flexible fibrous bands,

Which'at Fi 1. are shown arranged concentricallywi ineach other, but at suitable distances,'-but not necessarily equi -dis-- tant,-apart. 'y The iiexibleib ands are made Vof y folded over vone or more times with or with' out a layer of rubber or gutta-percha or solution between each fold. Through the folds of eachband are passed the teeth x projecting from the top ofveach-socket y. The teeth are arranged in two or more rows as shown at Flgs. to 9. Thev teeth 1n one'row are arranged to be opposite the spacesin the opposite row, as shown at Fig. 6. so that theteeth afterA passing through a band may be turned Vor bent over on to one of the faces as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 5, and bent down so as to clip the band and socket together. The upper surface 2 of each main portion of thev socket is curved transverselyin order that sition.

the band may m re readily bed'` itself .in po- The portion of' the socket is made of the same widthas, or slightly larger than the breadth of the t and; and onits 11ndersLi-rface is provided a projecting trorgh 1 with sides to taper outward and provided with end pieces. The sides of the troli gh'l are shaped as shown at Fig. 4. The ends fn, of the spokes -eare made to lit between the tro.v gh ends, and in order to reduce the lateral strain on si ch ends as well as to aid in keepving' the b ands ina working position, a 'number of transverse and pendent projections 2 are formed in the trough at si'itable distances apart. The projections 2 are adapted to fit into -the recesses o in the upper end of each spoke. -A pin or set screw is passed through holes 3 in the ysidesof the trough and holes p in the enlarged ends of the spokes for retaining the said parts in position. In some cases the troughs 1 may project at or about a right angle from themain portion of the sockets, as at Figs. 5, 7, and 8', and in the other cases at an angle thereto, as at Fig. 9. The bottom of the trough is curved in' order' to provide for a' slight oscillating movement of the spokes in the direction of the path of rota'- tion. A socket 'y is placed on the outer end oteach spoke. i

Between'each vtwo adjacent spokes e (Fig. 1) two sockets y are xed onthe opposite side ofband u' with theirtroughs 1 projecting.

lin an outward direction to receive the end of the supporting plates 6 which are`made of steeljor other suitable material bent or attached together so as to form a more or less4 V 'or Y shape as shown at Fig.` 14; or in the curved form shownv at Fig. 16. In the drawings the ysupporting plates 6 are formed of The said bands two portions riveted togetheratone end, and withtheir free end splayed out. The plates are shaped, as shownfat Fig. 15, and provided with recesses 7 intheir upper and lower edgesfor engaging with the projections 2 in the troughs 1,

The ends 9 and 10 are placed .res ectively in the sockets y fixed to the ban u with their troughs projecting in an outward direction, while the ends 8 are insertedin inward projecting troughs vor' sockets 'y' iixed to a second band c which is outside of the band u. Between each two adjacentsock-- ets y y fixed to the bando with inwardly projecting troughs are fixed on the opposite side of the band two sockets with their` troughs projecting in an outward direction r' for receiving av second set of supporting lates 6. In this caseends'S' fit into the ast named sockets, while the splayed out ends 9 and 1 0v are arranged. to enter the inwardly projecting troughs .of sockets fixed to a third band w which is` on the outside of the second band fu. But when two bands u and c onlyare used as at Fig. 2, then only one socket 'y is used between the biffurcated or bow-shaped ends of adjacent spokes, and also in the spaces between adjacent spokes. ln this case the supporting plates 6 shown at Fig. 16 will be found more suitable than those shown at 15.

The sockets y shown at Fig. .9. will'be found suitable Jfor the outer bands, While 'those shown' at .Figs-5, 7, and 8 may be preferable for the inner bands.

vIt will readily be seen in both the arrangements the same method of suspension is employed, namely, toC arrange thelv supporting V plates in the space between two pointswhere `an inner band is attached 'to .its supporting sockets. Byl this means the required re-- siliency ofv the wheel is obtained,-

1 1 is a rubber tire which is fixed to the outer i' band. .v l i The spokes e or r having been inserted in the sockets c and the balls g in the hole f,`-or the cone l screwed into position onA the boss (1..,'-the v ins h are inserted in the holes f and pressel therein by the cap j acting upon` the disk'i. The sockets 'y having been attached to the bands u, 4J, w,- the troughs of the sockets attached tothe'band u are placed upon the outer ends of the 1rol spokesl e, or uponthe ends of the bifurcated l pieces 5 attached to the tubular .s okes' 1'.v he band c with its sockets -attache theretois then placed around and onth'e outside of the band u and the supporting pieces 6 are placed with'their ends 8 in troughs ,of .the sockets y attached to the inner surface of the band v and with their ends 9, 10 in the troughs of the sockets fixed to the outer' surface ofthe band u. The band'w is then .in like manner placed around and on the outside of the band v', butin case the supporting pieces 6 are reversed so that the ends 8 are outermost.

When the bands and supporting pieces have been placed in position the wheel is ready for -centerin with the axis of the hub a. This may e accomplished by adllisting the screws fr, or when a cone lis used y fitting the inner ends of the spokes to its inclined surface. The centering of the spokes and bands being. achieved, the required tension is'imparted to the bands by screwing the cap y',-or cone Z,-`-on to the boss a and thereby pressing the disk'i and screws t simultaneously inward, thereby forcing the spokes outward, and tightening the tension of the band u. The tightening of the band u causes the supporting pieces 6 between bands u and v to be moved for tightening the band o. The band v in like manner acts-upon the supporting pieces 6 between bands v, w, to be moved, thereby tightening the band w.

In this manner a flexible and resilient wheel may beformed with a number of concentric fibrous rims arranged onewithin the other.

I claimz* 1. In a flexible wheel, the combination with a hub rovided with a number of ad justable spokes, of a number of concentric flexible fibrous rims, one of which bands is supported by the outer ends of the spokes,

each of the other bands being supported and loosely attached to each other.

2. In a flexible wheel, the combination of a hub providedwith sockets for the reception of the spokes, means for regulating the position of each spoke separatelyand simultaneously, spokes having enlarged ends adapted to engage with projecting'.'troughs fixed to flexible fibrous bands, and a number of concentric flexible fibrous bands `retained at the proper distance apart by plates, said plates being arranged in pairs, as set forth.

3. In a flexible wheel,l the combination of the spokes having enlarged ends, with a hub having a central boss with a number of sockets arranged around it and radiating to its center, each socket having a hole varying in size for the reception of the spokes, and for a number-of balls adapted to press against the inner end of each spoke, a pin to pass in the end of the said hole at the face of the boss, each of said pins being screwed into a disk i sliding upon the boss, and a cap screwed upon the boss and adapted to press the pins simultaneously inward for adjusting the said spokes to their work.

4. In a flexible wheel, the combination of a hub having sockets for the reception of the spokes, spokes fitting into holes in said sockets Aand having enlarged endsVmeans for adjusting the osition of the s okes in the sockets, a nu1n er of concentnc flexible fibrous bands'arranged around the spokes, sockets fixed tosaid bands, and plates for retaining the bands at the required distances a art, said plates being ada ted to engage wit the sockets and to slight y oscillate therein.

5. AIn a flexible wheel, the combination of a number of flexible fibrous bands adapted to be arranged concentrically around the spokes of the wheel, lsockets fixed to each flexible band, each socket composed of a main portion and having pins projecting in rows from its surface for attaching it' to the flexible band, and a trough from its undersurface,l plates for retaining the flexible bands apart, said,plates being arranged in pairs so that two of their edges are in contact with one another, ,and the ends of the plates when insertedin the'troughs of the sockets are prevented from moving laterally but vare free to 4 oscillate therein.

6. lIn a flexible wheel, the combination with a hub rovided with a number of adjustable spokes, of a plurality of concentric flexible bands, one of which is supported by' the spokes, and supporting connections .between said bands. i

7. In a flexible wheel, the combination of a hub provided with sockets for the reception of spokes, means for regulating the position of the spokes, s okes engaged with sockets fixed to flexible ands, a plurality of flexible bands, and means for retaining said bands a proper distance apart. p 8. In a flexible wheel, the combination of a. hub having sockets for the reception of spokes, spokes fitting into holes in said sock-fl Ioc ets, means for adjustino` .the position of spo-kes in the sockets, a plurality of concentric flexible bands arranged around the spokes, sockets fixed to said bands, -and means engaging said sockets and adapted to oscillate therein for retaining the bands at the required distance a art.

9. In a flexible whee the combination of av plurality of flexible bands adapted to be arranged concentrically around the spokes of the wheel, sockets fixed to each flexible band, each'socket composed of a main portion and having pins projecting, in rows from itssurface for"attaching .it to the flexible band, a trough, and plates arranged in pairs connected together at one edge andadapted to engage the troughs of said sockets.

ERNEST WIGGLESWORTH.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SADLER,` FRITZ KRAMER.

IIC. 

